Solder-mold



M4. STARK,

SOLDER MOLD. u

Patented Sept. 8, 1885.

Witnesses UNITED STATESV PATENT trice.

MICHAEL J. STARK, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

SOLDER-MOLD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 325,704, dated September 8, 1885.

Application filed August li, 1888. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL J. STARK, of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements on aSolder-Mold; and I do hereby declare that the following description of my said invention, taken in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, forms a full, clear, and exact specification, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. Y

My present invention has general reference to solder-molds for casting bar or stick solder; and it consists, essentially, in the novel and peculiar combination of parts and details of construction, as hereinafter first fully set forth and described, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,already referred to, which serve to illustrate my said invention more fully, Figure 1 is aperspective view of my improved mold. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 3 isa similar view of the upper portion of the said mold.' Fig. 4 is a plan of the same with the gate removed. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the locking-lever, and Fig. 6 is a sectional plan in line xx of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a solder-mold slightly modified.

Like parts are designated by corresponding letters of reference in all the figures.

lThe object of my present invention is the production of a simple and effective mold for casting bai', stick, wire, and other solder, in which the separate bars, sticks, Sto., are detached from the sprue,77 and the contents of the gate returned to the ladle in a molten state. To accomplish this object, I construct my solder-mold essentially of two plates, A A', one of which, A, is provided with a series of grooves or forms, a, of the contour of the solder to be produced, while the other is smooth and serving as a cover for said grooves or forms a. On the lower end of the smooth plate A are provided two legs, B B, having apertures b, by means of which and screwbolts (not shown) passing through said apertures said plate A' is fastened to any suitable and convenient work-bench. On the upper portion of this plate A' is formed a downwardly-inclined spout, C, extending along the entire width of said plate, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4, while to the lower portion,opposite the legs B B, are formed two projections, D D, serving as rests for the grooved plate A. The plate A is provided with a leg, E', to serve as a support for said plate whenever the latter is removed from its position upon the projections D D. To the sides of the plate-A are pivoted two locking-levers, F F', secured together to a handle or cross-bar, G, in such manner that the said locking-levers will operate simultaneously with said handle whenever the latter is actuated, as hereinafter more particularly referred to. The locking-levers F F' have each a curved portion, f, the center of which coincides with that of the pivot H, around which said levers rotate, said curved portion j' being constructed to engage with a pin or stud, I, secured to the portion A of the mold, and thereby to lock the two parts A A' securely together. Upon the top edges of the plates A A' is arranged a removable and movable gate, K, having two handles, It, by means of which it is actuated. This gate may be slid back and forth upon said plates A A', so that the pouring-slit L in said gate will be either opposite the molding grooves or forms a or over the discharging-spout C, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The pivoting-bolts H for the levers F are eccentrics--that is to Say, the center of the portion cl of said bolts does not coincide with the center of the screwthreaded portion d' of said bolts-so that when the said bolt H is turned in the proper direction it causes the curved part j' of the levers F Ff to impinge upon the studs I with greater or less force, as the case may be. This device enables me to compensate for any wear that may occur on either the curved portion f or on the pins I from continued use of the mold, adj ustment being made in a few moments time in an obvious manner. It is perfectly evident that instead of forming the eccentric on the bolts H, I may make the studs I eccentric, and thereby accomplish the desired object in substantially the same manner as with the eccentric bolts H. The grooves@ in the plate A do not run across the entire face of said plate, but stop short of the lower edge a sufficient distance to prevent the solder from running through the mold.

In operation the mold is secured upon alow IOO table or bench in close proximity to the solder-melting kettle (not illustrated) or directly upon the same, which is preferable, because heat is then conveyed to the mold kfrom the molten metal in the kettle, and therefore the mold brought into working condition much sooner than if otherwise placed, aside from other obvious advantages. As soon as the mold is sufficiently heated so as to allow the solder to ll the grooves a batch of soldei1 is dipped out of the kettle and quickly poured into the gate K, which is in the meantime held in the position shown in Fig. 2 4. c., so that the pouring-slit L is opposite the grooves c. As soon as the operator has poured sufficient metal into the gate he places his ladle underneath the spout C, so that as soon as the assistant who actuates the gate slides the same downward so as to bring the gate in the position shown in Fig. 3 the superuous -still liquid solder will at once run out of the said gate and over the spout C into said ladle.

It will now be readily observed that as soon as the gate K is emptied the bars of solder cast in the grooves c will be separated, so that by lifting the handle G the mold is unlocked, and thus ready to discharge its contents as soon as the solder has sufficiently set so as to allow the plate A to be lifted by the said handle G and then emptied of its contents.

The operations as heretofore specified are so readily performed and so simple that any ordinarily-skilled laborer can easily perform the same and cast within a given time more sticks of solder than can be done with any other solder-mold with which I am acquainted. The

vshape of the bars cast in this mold is usually that of a triangle the sides of which measure about three-eighths of an inch, such solder being exclusively employed in can-factories -for making fruit and other cans. It is not, however, the only shape in which solder can be cast in my mold, because semicircular, flat, oblong, or any other shaped bars may be as readily produced with this mold as the said triangular bars. Whenever the length of the bars exceedsl twelve inches, or thereabout, I prefer to use on the plates A A' two sets of levers F F', and to connect this second set of levers with the upper set by meansof connecting-rods M, so that by simply manipulating the handle G all the clamping-levers F F are acted upon at one time. These two sets of clamping-levers are necessary to properly close the mold whenever the plates are so long that one set in about the middle of said plates would not accomplish the object in view.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure to me by Letters Patent of the United States the following claims:

l. A solder-mold consisting of two movable plates, A A', the sliding gate K, anda clamping mechanism, substantially as described, for holding said plates in close contact', said plate A being providedwith a fixed spout, whereby the gate is arranged to discharge its surplus metal through said spout, substantially in the manner as and for the obj ect specified.

2. In solder-molds, the clamping mechanism specified, consisting of the levers F, pivoted upon the eccentric bolts H, connecting-bar G,

and clamping-pins I, said levers F being provided with the curved parts f, substantially in the manner as and for the object stated.

3. A solder-mold having adjustable clamping mechanism substantially as described, a sliding gate, and a fixed discharge-spoutl for the surplus metal of the gate, substantially in the manner as and for the object speciied.

4C. The combination, with the mold-plate A, having the grooves a, of the plain plate A', having the spout C and suitable supportinglegs, and a set of clamping-levers secured to one of said plates with an eccentric pin (or its described equivalents) and to one another by the handle G, thewhole being constructed and combined for operation in conjunction with a properly-arranged gate, substantially in the manner as and for the object specified.' v

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have hereto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MICHAEL J. STARK.

Attest:

GUsTAvUs E. FUHRMAN, JOHN C. DUERR. 

